Sri Maha Prathyangira Devi Temple is located in the breezy area of Sholinganallur, Chennai, India, adjacent to the beach of Bay of Bengal. The Temple sits on the banks of the Buckingham Canal. This is a magnificent temple built for Goddess Prathyangira, in her incarnation of Shri Maha Prathyangira Devi. She is considered to be a powerful repellent of the influences generated by witchcraft, and is said to have the power to punish Adharma. This is one of the few temples of Prathyangira and the only temple for Shri Maha Prathyangira Devi, the Shanta form.
Sri Prathyangira Devi is also associated with Sri Chakra. In Sri Chakra worship, she protects the devotees against all odds and guides him/her along the righteous path.
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Sri Maha Prathyangira Devi is a powerful Devi who is said to have destroyed Sarabeshwara's arrogance. (Sarabheswara is an ugra avatar of Siva). She is also known as Narasimhika (in the Kalisahasranama Stotram): She who is the Ferocious Half Human Half Lion of Courage. It is said that when Narashimhika shakes her Lion's Mane, she throws the stars into disarray. She is enveloped as bliss in the letter "Ksham".
Puranas tell of different origins for Maha Prathiyangara Devi. Some say that Prathiyangara Devi emerged out from the third eye of Sarabheswarar (manifestation of Lord Shiva) with 1,008 lion faces, 2,016 hands and a blood-stained tongue protruding out. She helped to reduce the ferocity of Lord Narashima.
Others say that when all the Gods were helpless to pacify Lord Narashima, the three Goddess Parvathi Devi, Saraswathi Devi and Lakshmi Devi created Prathiyangara Devi and sent her to fierce Lord Narashima, who was destroying the whole world after he extinguished the Demon King Hiraniyakasipu. When Prathiyangara Devi sat on Lord Narashima's thigh he was calmed down.
Some believe that in ancient times when two rishis, Prathiyangira and Angiras, were meditating, they discovered a goddess through a Moola Mantram who was nameless. Later she privileged the rishis by naming herself after them, and hence she was called Prathiyangara Devi.
In some images she is shown as dark complexioned, terrible in aspect, having a lion's face with reddened eyes and riding a lion or wearing black garments, she wears garland of human skulls; her hair strands on end, and she holds a trident, a serpent in the form of a noose, a hand-drum and a skull in her four hands. She is also associated with Bhairava, and she has a variant form viz. Atharvana-Bhadra-Kali.
Other Gods who are also shrined in the renowned temple are Goddess Varahi, Goddess Neela Saraswathi, Lord Sarabheswara, Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga, Lord Panjamukha Anjaneya, Lord Agni, Goddess Kaalikaambal, Lord Ayyapa, Lord Saniswara, Lord Narasimha, Lord Rahu and Ketu.
Abishegam and Archana are a regulation here. Special poojas are offered every Sundays. 'Arulvaaku', characteristic of this blessed temple is given on every Sundays, 10:00 A.M - 1:00 P.M followed by Annadhanam for all the devotees and attendees.
In this temple homam is done on a new moon day. The main ingredient for the homam is dried red chillies.
The temple is located close to the junction and half way down the link road of East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road.
The temple is open from 8:00 am to 12:00pm, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm during weekdays. The temple is open throughout the day till 8:00 pm every Sunday. ALSO You must see the temple iver padi that is ayyavadi prithiyankara temple which is near kumbakonam, and Melmaruvathur adhiparasakthi Temple (atharvana pathra kali )